Limits to probe raise concerns

A report on sexual harassment in the Canadian Forces, highly critical of senior military leaders, was released Thursday. Here’s the background:

Q What prompted the report?

A An investigation by l’Actualité and Maclean’s magazines suggested rampant sexual assault in the military. The magazines estimated that there were 1,780 sexual assaults per year – five per day – in the Canadian Forces. The military reacted by asking Marie Deschamps, a former Supreme Court justice, to examine the situation.

Q What did Deschamps investigate?

A She examined CF policies, procedures and programs in relation to sexual misconduct and sexual harassment. She also looked at the extent to which Forces members reported alleged incidents of sexual misconduct or harassment and any reasons why reporting might not have occurred, including the role of military culture and senior officers.

Q Were there areas Deschamps was not allowed to investigate?

A She could not review how the military justice system or its judges approached such sexual assault cases. The activities of the military’s Judge Advocate General could also not be examined. Certain military police actions were off-limits as well.

Q Are those limits to the investigation a problem?

A Some say yes. Victims have complained the military justice system limits what military police can investigate. In some cases, the victim’s boss decides if a co-worker should face disciplinary action.

Q Who was at Thursday’s press conference to answer questions?

A Gen. Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff, Chief Warrant Officer Kevin West, Canadian Forces CWO, Marie Deschamps, f and Maj.-Gen. Christine Whitecross, Commander, CAF Strategic Response Team on Sexual Misconduct

Q What happens next?

A The military leadership has appointed Whitecross to develop a plan to deal with problems identified in the Deschamps report.